Most of us have probably heard of or possibly (with a little embarrassment) watched the popular Disney movie ‘High School Musical’. It is the biggest Disney movie to date and has even spawned two sequels. Hollywood has obviously catered for the younger market and tried to extract a love of musicals for the youth and younger generation. But…what has happened to the classic musical?
Think ‘Chicago’ with the classic tune ‘All That Jazz’ or ‘Cabaret’, with Liza Minnelli playing the classic role of Sally Bowles… Are the days of seeing a classic complex, funny or sad tale told through music and dance behind us?
It seems all is not lost… Old fashioned musicals are back and being performed right here in South Africa.
Probably the most well-known of all musicals ,‘Phantom Of The Opera’, is making its way here. This is an Andrew Lloyd Webber classic that has been a sold-out hit across the globe. It tells the tale of a man with a brilliant musical mind but is extremely disfigured. He roams and haunts the Paris Opera House and is only known as “The Phantom”. The production features an all South African cast and includes the songs ‘Music Of The Night’ and ‘All I Ask Of You’. The musical will be performed at the Artscape in Cape Town and Teatro, Montecasino in Johannesburg.
Presented by the Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan society,
‘Fiddler On The Roof’ makes its way to the Artscape. This musical will have you in stitches with its sharp humour and have you crying with sadness at the same time. The musical finds its roots in the theme of tradition and will have you tugging at your heart-strings.
Last but definitely not least is a new musical comedy ‘Some Like It Vrot’ written and directed by our very own David Kramer. The musical finds comedian Marc Lottering at its center. Kramer has used one of the characters, Smiley, from Marc’s own stand-up shows the main characters. Thus, giving Lottering the opportunity to do what he does best. The performance will take you on a journey through the bustling streets of Wynberg , Woodstock and Grassy Park straight to the plush setting of the Waterfront. ‘Some Like It Vrot’ will be showing at the Baxter Theatre starting this October.
So, if you love music, singing and dancing why not catch these performances and be enthralled by a combination of all these.
